Liquid crystal panel and display device

ABSTRACT

Provided are a liquid crystal panel capable of achieving a small light-shielding angle in a narrow viewing angle mode and a display device including the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel sequentially includes: a first polarizing plate with a first absorption axis; a first substrate including a first electrode; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a second electrode, wherein in a plan view, a director of the liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-173375 filed on Oct. 22, 2021 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-100395 filed on Jun. 22, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The following disclosure relates to liquid crystal panels and display devices including the liquid crystal panels.

Description of Related Art

Liquid crystal panels are display panels utilizing a liquid crystal composition to display images. In a typical display mode thereof, voltage is applied to a liquid crystal composition sealed between paired substrates such that the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal composition is changed according to the applied voltage, whereby the amount of light passing through the panel is controlled. Such liquid crystal panels have advantageous features such as thin profile, light weight, and low power consumption, and are therefore used in a variety of fields.

Studies to enhance the viewing angle characteristics of display devices have been made such that the same image can be observed regardless of whether the angle of observation is in a narrow viewing angle range or a wide viewing angle range. Meanwhile, a display method considered in terms of privacy protection is one that allows observation of an image in a narrow viewing angle range but makes the image difficult to observe in a wide viewing angle range. Such studies and consideration suggest a desire for display devices capable of switching between these modes, namely the public mode (wide viewing angle mode) that allows observation of the same image both in a narrow viewing angle range and in a wide viewing angle range and the privacy mode (narrow viewing angle mode) that allows observation of an image in the narrow viewing angle range but makes the image difficult to observe in the wide viewing angle range.

A technique related to a liquid crystal panel used for such a display device capable of switching between the public mode and the privacy mode is disclosed in JP 2008-203565 A, for example. JP 2008-203565 A discloses a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel which, when placed on the front or back surface of a display panel, controls the viewing angle of an image displayed on the display panel, and includes a liquid crystal layer and pixels as units used in application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer. Linearly polarized light is to be incident on the liquid crystal layer. On the surface of the liquid crystal layer from which light is to be emitted is provided a polarizing plate that transmits only light components parallel to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer, among the light components emitted from the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer tilt in the direction parallel or perpendicular to the polarization axis of linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer when voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. The pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern.

US 11002998 B2 discloses a backlight system for controlling a viewing angle, the backlight system including: a first backlight unit that emits light from a non-viewing side of the backlight system toward a viewing side of the backlight system; a second backlight unit located on a viewing side of the first backlight unit that emits light toward the viewing side of the backlight system; a privacy optic that includes a liquid crystal material and is located on a non-viewing side of the second backlight unit and between the first backlight unit and the second backlight unit, wherein the privacy optic operates to transmit light from the first backlight unit in a limited viewing angle range; a first polarizer located on a viewing side of the privacy optic and on a non-viewing side of the second backlight unit; and a second polarizer located on a non-viewing side of the privacy optic and on a viewing side of the first backlight unit; wherein the privacy optic includes a liquid crystal cell configured as a hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) liquid crystal cell located between the first polarizer and the second polarizer, the HAN liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having a first electrode layer and a second substrate having a second electrode layer on opposite sides of a liquid crystal layer, and wherein a viewing angle restriction is stronger when a voltage is applied across the HAN liquid crystal cell.

AU Optronics Corp., Hsinchu et al., Taiwan, “Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angle Controllable LCD”, SID 2021 DIGEST, 543 discloses a dual-cell liquid crystal display device including a vertical alignment (VA) mode liquid crystal lens cell; a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel with an ITO grid electrode on its substrate on one side; a display-providing liquid crystal panel; and a louver film. This liquid crystal display device can utilize the transverse electric field to modulate the refractive index distribution in the cell and thereby diffuse the backlight illumination through the louver film (operates in the public mode) during voltage application to the grid electrode of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel, while allowing the backlight illumination to travel as is toward the display-providing liquid crystal panel without being diffused during no voltage application (operates in the privacy mode).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

None of JP 2008-203565 A, US 11002998 B2, and Hsinchu et al. mentions consideration on sufficient reduction of the light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode.

In response to the above issues, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel capable of achieving a small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode and a display device including the liquid crystal panel.

(1) One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal panel sequentially including: a first polarizing plate with a first absorption axis; a first substrate including a first electrode; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a second electrode, wherein in a plan view, a director of the liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°.

(2) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1) and further includes a second polarizing plate with a second absorption axis parallel to the first absorption axis, the second polarizing plate facing the liquid crystal layer across the second substrate.

(3) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1) or (2), the liquid crystal molecules are at a tilt angle of not smaller than 1° and not greater than 5° with no voltage applied, and the liquid crystal molecules are at a tilt angle of not smaller than 40° and not greater than 75° with voltage applied.

(4) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1), (2), or (3), and the liquid crystal panel is in an ECB mode.

(5) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1), (2), (3), or (4), the liquid crystal layer with voltage applied provides a retardation Re of not less than 600 nm and not more than 1000 nm.

(6) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), the liquid crystal layer has a thickness d of not smaller than 3 µm and not greater than 10 µm.

(7) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6), the liquid crystal molecules have a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant.

(8) In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel includes the structure (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), and further includes a negative C plate that provides a retardation Rth in a thickness direction of not less than 500 nm.

(9) Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a display device including the liquid crystal panel including the structure (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8), and a display panel.

(10) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (9), and the display panel is an IPS mode or FFS mode liquid crystal display panel.

(11) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (9) or (10) and further includes a backlight, the backlight includes two light guide plates, and one of the two light guide plates has a function for a wide viewing angle mode and the other of the two light guide plates has a function for a narrow viewing angle mode.

(12) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (9), and the display panel is an organic EL display panel, an inorganic EL display panel, a microLED display panel, or a QLED display panel.

(13) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (9), (10), or (11), the display panel includes a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate, the third substrate includes color filters of a plurality of colors, the fourth substrate includes a pixel electrode, the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode each have an elongated shape, and a lengthwise direction of each of the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode lies in a top-bottom direction of the display panel.

(14) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (9), (10), or (11), the display panel includes a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate, the third substrate includes color filters of a plurality of colors, the fourth substrate includes a pixel electrode, the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode each have an elongated shape, and a lengthwise direction of each of the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode lies in a left-right direction of the display panel.

(15) In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes the structure (14), the third substrate includes a black matrix layer provided with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the respective color filters of a plurality of colors, the apertures each have a width WB in the left-right direction of the display panel of not smaller than 80 µm and not greater than 140 µm, and the apertures each have a width LB in a top-bottom direction of the display panel of not greater than 80 µm.

The present invention can provide a liquid crystal panel capable of achieving a small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode and a display device including the liquid crystal panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1 with no voltage applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1 with voltage applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the director of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the absorption axes of polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the director of the liquid crystal molecules with voltage applied and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the display device of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 11 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 1.

FIG. 12 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 1.

FIG. 13 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 2.

FIG. 14 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 2.

FIG. 15 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3.

FIG. 16 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3.

FIG. 17 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A.

FIG. 18A shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A.

FIG. 18B shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3.

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one of viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3B1 to Example 3B4.

FIG. 20 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3A and Example 3B1 to Example 3B4.

FIG. 21 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 22 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 23 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the director of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the absorption axes of polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the director of the liquid crystal molecules with voltage applied and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 4.

FIG. 26 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 4.

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 4.

FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 5.

FIG. 29 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 5.

FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 5.

FIG. 31 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 6.

FIG. 32 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 6.

FIG. 33 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 6.

FIG. 34 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 7.

FIG. 35 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 7.

FIG. 36 is a schematic plan view of a third substrate of a liquid crystal display panel in a display device of Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 37 is a schematic plan view of a fourth substrate of the liquid crystal display panel in the display device of Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 38 is a schematic plan view of a third substrate of a liquid crystal display panel in a display device of Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 39 is a schematic plan view of a fourth substrate of the liquid crystal display panel in the display device of Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 40 is a schematic perspective view of a backlight in a display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 41 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where LEDs on a normal light guide plate and LEDs on a public-mode light guide plate are in the on state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 42 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the LEDs on the normal light guide plate are in the on state and the LEDs on the public-mode light guide plate are in an off state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 43 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the LEDs on the normal light guide plate are in the off state and the LEDs on the public-mode light guide plate are in the on state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 44 is a schematic perspective view of a backlight in a display device of Modified Example 6 of Embodiment 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The design may be modified as appropriate within the range satisfying the configuration of the present invention. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions in different drawings are commonly provided with the same reference sign so as to appropriately avoid repetition of description. The embodiments in the present invention may be combined as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Definition of Terms

The “viewing surface side” herein means the side closer to the screen (display surface) of the liquid crystal panel. The “back surface side” herein means the side farther from the screen (display surface) of the liquid crystal panel.

The “polar angle” herein means an angle formed by the direction in question (e.g., measurement direction) and the direction normal to the screen of the liquid crystal panel. The “azimuth” herein means the direction in question in a view projected onto the screen of the liquid crystal panel and is expressed as an angle (azimuthal angle) formed with the reference azimuth. The reference azimuth (0°) is set to the horizontally right direction on the screen of the liquid crystal panel. The azimuthal angle measure positive in the counterclockwise direction and measure negative in the clockwise direction. The counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction are both the rotational directions when the screen of the liquid crystal panel is viewed from the viewing surface side (front). The angle represents a value measured in a plan view of the liquid crystal panel. Two straight lines (including axes, directions, and ridgelines) being perpendicular to each other mean that they are perpendicular to each other in a plan view of the liquid crystal panel.

The “axis azimuth” herein means, unless otherwise specified, the azimuth of the absorption axis (reflection axis) of a polarizer or the optical axis (slow axis) of a retarder.

The expression that two axes are “perpendicular” herein means that they form an angle of 90°±3°, preferably 90°±1°, more preferably 90°±0.5°, particularly preferably 90° (perfectly perpendicular). The expression that two axes are “parallel” means that they form an angle of 0°±3°, preferably 0°±1°, more preferably 0°±0.5°, particularly preferably 0° (perfectly parallel).

The retardation Rp in the in-plane direction is defined by Rp = (ns - nf)d. The retardation Rth in the thickness direction is defined by Rth = (nz - (nx + ny)/2)d. In the formulas, ns represents nx or ny, whichever is greater, while nf represents nx or ny, whichever is smaller; nx and ny each represent a principal refractive index in the in-plane direction of a birefringent layer (including a retarder and a liquid crystal panel); nz represents a principal refractive index in the out-of-plane direction, i.e., the direction perpendicular to a surface of the birefringent layer; and d represents the thickness of the birefringent layer.

The measurement wavelength for optical parameters such as a principal refractive index and a retardation herein is 550 nm unless otherwise specified.

The “birefringent layer” herein means a layer having optical anisotropy and is a concept encompassing a retarder and a liquid crystal panel. The birefringent layer provides, for example, a retardation in the in-plane direction, or a retardation in the thickness direction in absolute value of not less than 10 nm, preferably not less than 20 nm.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The design may be modified as appropriate within the range satisfying the configuration of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1 with no voltage applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1 with voltage applied. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 as the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment includes a first polarizing plate 10P1 with a first absorption axis, a first substrate 110 including a first electrode 112, a liquid crystal layer 130 containing liquid crystal molecules 131, and a second substrate 150 including a second electrode 152, wherein in a plan view, the director of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°. With this configuration, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 with no voltage applied operates in a wide viewing angle mode while the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 with voltage applied operates in a narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range is asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). Especially in the narrow viewing angle mode, the viewing angle range can be narrowed down to a polar angle of not greater than 40°, for example, meaning that the light-shielding angle can be sufficiently small.

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment is specifically in the electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode where in a plan view, the director of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°. This configuration achieves a bilaterally asymmetric luminance viewing angle relative to the front (polar angle of 0°) in the horizontal direction during voltage application to the ECB liquid crystal (liquid crystal layer 130). For example, with an appropriately adjusted angle α, the polar angle at which the transmittance is minimum (such a polar angle is also referred to as a light-shielding angle) can be smaller. In other words, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment can further reduce the unviewable angle (polar angle) in the privacy mode (further narrow the viewable angle range (polar angle range) in the privacy mode).

In the ECB mode liquid crystal panel containing liquid crystal molecules having a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant, there is a trade-off relationship between the light-shielding angle and the retardation Re of the liquid crystal layer at an angle α of 0° or 90°. Specifically, when the liquid crystal layer provides a Re of 800 nm, the light-shielding angle at the optimum voltage is about 45 degrees. Meanwhile, in order to achieve a light-shielding angle of about 30°, Re needs to be about 1600 nm, meaning that the birefringence Δn or the cell thickness d of the liquid crystal layer has to be increased. For example, Δn needs to be 0.12 and d needs to be 13 µm when the cell thickness d is to be increased, while Δn needs to be 0.22 and d needs to be 7 µm when the birefringence Δn is to be increased. Increasing the cell thickness d and increasing the birefringence Δn, however, both raise issues of productivity and reliability. Specifically, increasing the cell thickness d involves issues of in-plane unevenness and yield (property stability) due to the increased thickness. Increasing the birefringence Δn leads to unstable operation at low temperature although it can achieve a high Δn when a tolane-based liquid crystal material is used. In contrast, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment eliminates the need for increasing the cell thickness d or birefringence Δn, and thus can achieve a sufficiently small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode without a decline in productivity or reliability while preventing or reducing unstable operation at low temperature.

JP 2008-203565 A mentions only the case of including the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel and the display-providing liquid crystal panel, wherein the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel is in the ECB mode (homogeneous alignment state) in which the director of the liquid crystal molecules and the transmission axis of each of the polarizing plates between which the display-providing liquid crystal panel is sandwiched form an angle of 0° (parallel). In this case, the light-shielding angle cannot be made sufficiently small. In contrast, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment can achieve a sufficiently small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode.

The liquid crystal display device disclosed in US 11002998 B2 includes the HAN mode viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel, the display-providing liquid crystal panel, and the two layers of backlight units for the public mode and the privacy mode. This display device is a dual-cell liquid crystal display device capable of switching between the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode, wherein the narrow viewing angle mode is achieved by shifting the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel to the off state, the backlight unit for the privacy mode to the on state, and the backlight unit for the public mode to the off state, while the wide viewing angle mode is achieved by shifting the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel to the on state, the backlight unit for the public mode to the on state, and the backlight unit for the privacy mode to the off state. In the liquid crystal display device disclosed in US 11002998 B2, achieving a small light-shielding angle requires an increase in retardation (Re = Δn x d) provided by the liquid crystal layer, which is however difficult to achieve at the same time as the mass productivity. In contrast, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment can achieve a sufficiently small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode while preventing or reducing a decline in mass productivity.

The liquid crystal display device disclosed in Hsinchu et al. is a dual-cell liquid crystal display device including a VA mode viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel, a display-providing liquid crystal panel, and a louver film, wherein the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel includes an ITO grid electrode only on its substrate on one side. The liquid crystal display device disclosed in Hsinchu et al. achieves the public mode by utilizing a transverse electric field to modulate the refractive index distribution in the liquid crystal cell and thereby diffusing the backlight illumination through the louver film during voltage application to the grid electrode. The liquid crystal display device achieves the privacy mode by allowing the backlight illumination to travel as is toward the display-providing liquid crystal panel without being diffused during no voltage application. In this manner, in the method of Hsinchu et al., the light-shielding angle in the privacy mode depends on the louver film. This causes a failure in achieving a sufficiently wide viewing angle in the public mode in the case of using a louver film having a small light-shielding angle. In contrast, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment can achieve a sufficiently wide viewing angle in the public mode and a sufficiently small light-shielding angle in the privacy mode.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment is described in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1. In FIG. 3 , the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 are omitted. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment preferably further includes a second polarizing plate 10P2 with a second absorption axis parallel to the first absorption axis, the second polarizing plate 10P2 facing the liquid crystal layer 130 across the second substrate 150. This configuration allows the first polarizing plate 10P1 and the second polarizing plate 10P2 to be arranged in parallel Nicols. The configuration thus enables more effective transmission of backlight illumination in a region ranging from small to large polar angles with no voltage applied when a backlight is placed on the back surface side of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10.

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment more specifically includes, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , sequentially from the viewing surface side toward the back surface side, the first polarizing plate 10P1 with a first absorption axis, the first substrate 110 including a first support substrate 111 and the first electrode 112, the first alignment film 120, the liquid crystal layer 130 containing the liquid crystal molecules 131 having a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant, the second alignment film 140, the second substrate 150 including a second support substrate 151 and the second electrode 152, and the second polarizing plate 10P2 with the second absorption axis parallel to the first absorption axis. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment is an ECB mode liquid crystal panel utilizing a nematic liquid crystal having a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 can change the voltage to be applied between the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 152 to change the retardation in the liquid crystal layer 130, thus controlling transmission and blocking of light in the liquid crystal layer 130.

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 is a passive liquid crystal panel which is passively driven. Similar to a typical passive liquid crystal panel, the first substrate 110 of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 includes the first electrode 112 as a solid electrode covering the entire surface of a screen 50, and the second substrate 150 includes the second electrode 152 as a solid electrode covering the entire surface of the screen 50. This configuration enables switching between the public mode and the privacy mode throughout the screen 50.

Examples of the first support substrate 111 and the second support substrate 151 include substrates such as glass substrates and plastic substrates. Examples of the material for the glass substrates include glass such as float glass and soda-lime glass. Examples of the material for the plastic substrates include plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polycarbonate, and alicyclic polyolefin.

The first electrode 112 and the second electrode 152 may be transparent electrodes that can be formed from, for example, a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), or tin oxide (SnO) or an alloy of any of these materials.

The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 control the alignment azimuth for the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied. The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 may be horizontal alignment films or vertical alignment films. In order to increase the transmittance with no voltage applied, the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 are preferably horizontal alignment films.

A horizontal alignment film, when provided to a substrate in a liquid crystal display device, exerts an alignment control force of aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer substantially horizontally thereto, with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer. A vertical alignment film, when provided to a substrate in a liquid crystal display device, exerts an alignment control force of aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer substantially vertically thereto, with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer.

The expression “substantially horizontally” means that the tilt angle is not smaller than 0° and not greater than 10°, preferably not smaller than 0° and not greater than 5°, more preferably not smaller than 0° and not greater than 2°. The expression “substantially vertically” means that the tilt angle is not smaller than 83° and not greater than 90°, preferably not smaller than 85° and not greater than 90°, more preferably not smaller than 87.5° and not greater than 88.0°.

The “tilt angle” herein does not mean the angle formed by the director of liquid crystal molecules and the main surface of each substrate, but means the average angle formed by the director of liquid crystal molecules in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer and the main surface of each substrate (each of the first substrate and the second substrate), with the angle parallel to the substrate surface measuring 0° and the angle of the line normal to the substrate surface measuring 90°. In particular, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied is also referred to as a pre-tilt angle. The alignment azimuth of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied is also referred to as an initial alignment azimuth. The tilt angle can be measured by the rotating crystal method with, for example, Axoscan (available from Axometrics, Inc.). The director of liquid crystal molecules in the present embodiment means the direction of the principal axes of alignment (the average direction of the long axes of molecules in nematic liquid crystal). For example, in a plan view, the director of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied matches the alignment treatment direction for the alignment films.

The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 can be made of a material commonly used in the field of liquid crystal panels, such as a polymer having a polyimide structure in its main chain, a polymer having a polyamic acid structure in its main chain, or a polymer having a polysiloxane structure in its main chain. The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 can be formed by, for example, applying an alignment film material to a substrate. The application method may be any method such as flexo printing or inkjet coating.

The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 may be a photoalignment film containing a photo-functional group and having undergone a photoalignment treatment as the alignment treatment, a rubbed alignment film having undergone a rubbing treatment as the alignment treatment, or an alignment film having undergone no alignment treatment.

The liquid crystal layer 130 contains the liquid crystal molecules 131 and controls the amount of light passing therethrough by changing the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 131 based on the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 130. The anisotropy of dielectric constant (Δε) of the liquid crystal molecules 131 is defined by the following formula (L). Preferably, the liquid crystal molecules 131 have a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant. This configuration can reduce the driving voltage. The configuration also can make the liquid crystal panel resistant to the external thermal environment (highly reliable). Liquid crystal molecules having a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant are referred to as positive liquid crystal molecules, while liquid crystal molecules having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant are referred to as negative liquid crystal molecules. The direction of the long axes of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied is also referred to as the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

Δε = (dielectric constant in long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules) - (dielectric constant in short axis direction of liquid crystal molecules) (L)

The liquid crystal molecules 131 are homogeneously aligned with no voltage applied. Herein, the homogeneous alignment means an alignment state where the liquid crystal molecules are aligned horizontally to the surfaces of a substrate constituting the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel (e.g., the surfaces of at least one of the first substrate 110 or the second substrate 150) and the orientations of the liquid crystal molecules are the same. The state with no voltage applied (during no voltage application) means a state where voltage of not lower than the threshold for the liquid crystal molecules is not applied to the liquid crystal layer. For example, the same constant voltage may be applied to the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 152, or a constant voltage may be applied to one of the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 152 while a voltage lower than the threshold for the liquid crystal molecules relative to the constant voltage may be applied to the other of the electrodes. The state with voltage applied (during voltage application) means a state where a voltage of not lower than the threshold for the liquid crystal molecules is applied to the liquid crystal layer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the director of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the absorption axes of polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the director of the liquid crystal molecules with voltage applied and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 4 , in a plan view, when a director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and a first absorption axis 10P1A of the first polarizing plate 10P1 form an angle α of φ (here, α is not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°), the angle formed by the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and a first transmission axis 10P1B of the first polarizing plate 10P1 satisfies 90° - φ in observation of the screen both at a polar angle of 0° (front direction) and at a larger polar angle as shown in FIG. 5 .

Meanwhile, with voltage applied, as shown in FIG. 6 , the angle formed by the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first transmission axis 10P1B of the first polarizing plate 10P1 satisfies 90° - φ in observation of the screen at a polar angle of 0° (front direction). However, in observation of the screen at a larger polar angle (e.g., polar angle of 30°), the angle formed by the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first transmission axis 10P1B of the first polarizing plate 10P1 depends on the tilt angle θ of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the angle φ, and thus is different from the angle in observation from the front direction.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, in a plan view, when the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis 10P1A of the first polarizing plate 10P1 form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 with voltage applied operates in the narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range is asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front direction) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). In particular, in this narrow viewing angle mode, the viewing angle range can be narrowed down to a polar angle of not greater than 40°, for example, meaning that the light-shielding angle can be sufficiently small.

Preferably, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied is not smaller than 1° and not greater than 5°, while the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with voltage applied is not smaller than 40° and not greater than 75°. This configuration can further reduce the unviewable angle (polar angle) in the privacy mode. In other words, the configuration enables blocking of light at smaller polar angles. Herein, with the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the liquid crystal panel taken as the reference, the polar angle decreases as it goes closer to the perpendicular direction, while the polar angle increases as it goes farther from the perpendicular direction.

The birefringence Δn of the liquid crystal molecules 131 may be not lower than 0.08 and not higher than 0.24. For a high degree of reliability (high voltage holding ratio, wide operation temperature range), the birefringence Δn is preferably not lower than 0.08 and not higher than 0.16.

The thickness (cell thickness) d of the liquid crystal layer 130 is preferably not smaller than 3 µm and not greater than 10 µm. This configuration can increase the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules 131. Also, the thickness of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 can be further reduced. In terms of reduction of thickness, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 130 is more preferably not smaller than 3 µm and not greater than 5 µm. In terms of the yield, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 130 is more preferably not smaller than 5 µm and not greater than 10 µm. The liquid crystal layer 130 having a thickness d of not smaller than 5 µm can cause the display unevenness due to contamination with a foreign material to be less noticeable, thus increasing the yield.

Preferably, the liquid crystal layer 130 with voltage applied provides a retardation Re of not less than 600 nm and not more than 1000 nm. This configuration can reliably achieve a sufficient light-shielding ability and sufficient production stability. The retardation Re provided by the liquid crystal layer 130 is expressed as the product of the birefringence (Δn) of the liquid crystal molecules and the thickness (d) of the liquid crystal layer.

The first polarizing plate 10P1 and the second polarizing plate 10P2 are both absorptive polarizers. The first polarizing plate 10P1 and the second polarizing plate 10P2 may each be, for example, a polarizer (absorptive polarizing plate) obtained by dyeing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film with an anisotropic material such as an iodine complex (or dye) to adsorb the anisotropic material on the PVA film, and stretching the film for alignment.

The first polarizing plate 10P1 has the first absorption axis 10P1A and the first transmission axis 10P1B perpendicular to the first absorption axis 10P1A. The second polarizing plate 10P2 has the second absorption axis 10P2A and a second transmission axis 10P2B perpendicular to the second absorption axis 10P2A.

Preferably, the second absorption axis 10P2A is parallel to the first absorption axis 10P1A. For example, the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A are set at an axis azimuth of 90°.

Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 7 , preferably, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 further includes a negative C plate 160 providing a retardation Rth in the thickness direction of not less than 500 nm. This configuration can achieve an even smaller light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode. The negative C plate 160 may be a single-layered plate or a laminate of a plurality of layers. Configurations except for those described in the present modified example are the same as those in Embodiment 1. For the convenience of description, components having the same functions in FIG. 7 and the drawings for Embodiment 1 are provided with the same reference sign so as to avoid repetition of description.

The retardation Rth in the thickness direction provided by the negative C plate 160 is more preferably not less than 500 nm, still more preferably not less than 550 nm. The upper limit of the retardation Rth in the thickness direction provided by the negative C plate 160 is not limited and may be, for example, not more than 1000 nm.

Examples of the negative C plate include stretched cycloolefin polymer films.

Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 1

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Embodiment 1 is a passive liquid crystal panel which is passively driven. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 is not limited thereto and may be, for example, an active matrix liquid crystal panel which is driven by an active matrix driving method. Configurations except for those described in the present modified example are the same as those in Embodiment 1. For the convenience of description, components having the same functions in FIG. 8 and the drawings for Embodiment 1 are commonly provided with the same reference sign so as to avoid repetition of description.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 1. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of the present modified example shown in FIG. 8 is an active matrix liquid crystal panel adopting active matrix driving. This configuration enables switching between the public mode and the privacy mode partially, not entirely, on the screen.

The second substrate 150 of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 includes, as in a typical active matrix liquid crystal panel, gate lines 153 and source lines 154 arranged perpendicularly to each other and forming a grid pattern, and thin film transistors (TFTs) 155 as switching elements at or near the respective intersections. Regions surrounded by the gate lines 153 and the source lines 154 define pixels 11P, and each pixel 11P includes as the second electrode 152 a pixel electrode connected to a corresponding TFT 155.

The first substrate 110 facing the second substrate 150 includes as the first electrode 112 a common electrode that is a solid electrode covering the entire screen 50.

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 may be driven by any method such as a typical active matrix driving method. In other words, the TFTs 155 in the respective pixels are switched (turned on or off) via the gate driver. In response to the switching, voltage is applied via the source driver to the pixels to be turned on, and electric charge is accumulated as storage capacitance in the pixels via the drain buses of the corresponding TFTs 155. This storage capacitance keeps the pixels turned on.

The gate lines 153 are conductive lines connected to the gate electrodes of the respective TFTs 155 (typically, the bus lines connected to the gate electrodes). Scanning signals (signals that control the on and off states of the TFTs) are supplied to the connected gate electrodes of the TFTs 155. The source lines 154 are conductive lines connected to the source electrodes of the respective TFTs 155 (typically, bus lines connected to the source electrodes). Data signals (e.g., video signals) are supplied to the connected TFTs 155. Typically, either the gate lines 153 or the source lines 154 are in the form of lines vertically crossing an array region with the TFTs 155 arranged in a matrix pattern while the others are in the form of lines horizontally crossing the array region.

The gate lines 153, the source lines 154, and the conductive lines and electrodes of the TFTs 155 can be formed by forming a single- or multi-layered film of a metal such as copper, titanium, aluminum, molybdenum, or tungsten, or an alloy of any of these metals by a method such as sputtering, followed by patterning of the film by a method such as photolithography. Various conductive lines and electrodes to be formed in the same layer are produced from the same material for a higher efficiency of production.

Embodiment 2

The features unique to the present embodiment are mainly described here, and description of the matters already described in Embodiment 1 is omitted. The present embodiment relates to a display device including the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Embodiment 1 and a display panel.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device of Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the display device of Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 , a display device 1 of the present embodiment includes the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Embodiment 1 and a liquid crystal display panel 20 as the display panel. The display device 1 of the present embodiment is a dual-cell viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal display device. This configuration enables the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 to operate in the wide viewing angle mode in a state with no voltage applied where a voltage not lower than the threshold for the liquid crystal molecules 131 is not applied to the liquid crystal layer 130, thus enabling an image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 to be viewable in a wide viewing angle range. Also, the configuration enables the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 to operate in the narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range is asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front direction) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) in a state with voltage applied where a voltage not lower than the threshold for the liquid crystal molecules 131 is applied to the liquid crystal layer 130. In particular, in the narrow viewing angle mode, the viewing angle range can be narrowed down to a polar angle of not greater than 40°, for example, meaning that the light-shielding angle can be sufficiently small. As a result, the configuration can narrow the range (polar angle range) in which an image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 is viewable in the narrow viewing angle mode.

The display device 1 of the present embodiment includes, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, a backlight 30, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, and the liquid crystal display panel 20.

The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 includes, sequentially from the viewing surface side toward the back surface side, the first polarizing plate 10P1, the first substrate 110, the first alignment film 120, the liquid crystal layer 130 (also referred to as a first liquid crystal layer 130), the second alignment film 140, the second substrate 150, and the second polarizing plate 10P2.

The liquid crystal display panel 20 includes, sequentially from the viewing surface side toward the back surface side, a third polarizing plate 10P3, a third substrate 210, a third alignment film 220, a second liquid crystal layer 230, a fourth alignment film 240, a fourth substrate 250, and a fourth polarizing plate 10P4. The liquid crystal display panel 20 includes pixels arranged in the in-plane direction in a matrix pattern.

The third substrate 210 incudes, sequentially from the viewing surface side toward the back surface side, a third support substrate 211, a color filter layer 212, and a black matrix layer 213. The third substrate 210 is also referred to as a color filter substrate.

The third support substrate 211 is not limited and may be, for example, the same substrate as the first support substrate 111 and the second support substrate 151.

The color filter layer 212 is defined by, for example, red color filters, green color filters, and blue color filters. The red color filters, the green color filters, and the blue color filters each are made of, for example, a transparent resin containing a pigment.

The black matrix layer 213 is disposed in a grid-like pattern to partition the color filters of multiple colors in the color filter layer 212. The black matrix layer may be made of any material capable of blocking light and may preferably be made of a resin material containing a black pigment or a metal material capable of blocking light. The black matrix layer 213 is formed by, for example, applying a photosensitive resin containing a black pigment to form a film, followed by photolithography including exposure and development.

The fourth substrate 250 preferably includes third electrodes 252 and fourth electrodes 254. This configuration can achieve the in-plane switching (IPS) mode or the fringe field switching (FFS) mode and allows the liquid crystal display panel 20 alone to operate in the wide viewing angle mode. The present embodiment is described based on a case where the liquid crystal display panel 20 is in the FFS mode.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the fourth substrate 250 includes, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, a fourth support substrate 251, the third electrodes 252 arranged in the respective pixels, an insulating layer 253, and the fourth electrodes 254 each including linear electrodes 254 a. In other words, the fourth substrate 250 has an FFS electrode structure in which the third electrodes 252 and the fourth electrodes 254 are stacked with the insulating layer 253 in between. The fourth substrate 250 is also referred to as an active matrix substrate.

The fourth substrate 250 includes, on the fourth substrate 250, parallel gate lines and parallel source lines crossing the gate lines via an insulating film. The gate lines and the source lines as a whole are formed in a grid pattern. TFTs are arranged as switching elements at the respective intersections of the gate lines and the source lines.

The present embodiment is described with reference to the liquid crystal display panel 20 having an FFS-mode electrode structure as an example. Yet, the concept of the present embodiment is also applicable to an IPS-mode electrode structure in which the third electrodes 252 and the fourth electrodes 254 are both comb-teeth electrodes, and the third electrodes 252 as comb-teeth electrodes and the fourth electrodes 254 as comb-teeth electrodes are formed in the same electrode layer such that their comb teeth fit each other.

Non-limiting examples of the fourth support substrate 251 of the fourth substrate 250 include the same support substrates as the first support substrate 111 and the second support substrate 151.

The third electrodes 252 and the fourth electrodes 254 are arranged in the respective pixels. The third electrodes 252 are preferably planar electrodes. Herein, the “planar electrode” means an electrode without any slit or aperture in a plan view. The third electrodes 252 preferably overlap at least the later-described linear electrodes 254 a of the fourth electrodes 254 in a plan view.

The fourth electrodes 254 are electrically connected to one another over the pixels. The fourth electrodes 254 each include the linear electrodes 254 a. The planar shape of the fourth electrodes 254 may be, for example, a structure in which the ends of the linear electrodes 254 a are both closed. The fourth electrodes 254 may each be provided with an aperture 254 b surrounded by its electrode portion.

The fourth electrodes 254 arranged in the respective pixels may be electrically connected to one another and a common constant voltage may be applied to the pixels, while each of the third electrodes 252 arranged in the respective pixels may be electrically connected to the corresponding source line via the semiconductor layer of the corresponding TFT and different voltages may be applied to the respective pixels according to the respective image signals. Also, each of the fourth electrodes 254 may be electrically connected to the corresponding source line via the semiconductor layer of the corresponding TFT and different voltages may be applied to the respective pixels according to the respective image signals, while the third electrodes 252 may be electrically connected to one another and a common constant voltage may be applied to the pixels.

Examples of the third electrodes 252 and the fourth electrodes 254 include the same electrodes as the first electrodes 112 and the second electrodes 152.

Examples of the insulating layer 253 include inorganic insulating films and organic insulating films. The inorganic insulating films may be, for example, inorganic films (relative dielectric constant ε = 5 to 7) such as a silicon nitride (SiNx) film or a silicon oxide (SiO₂) film, or a laminate of these films. The organic insulating films may be, for example, organic films such as an acrylic resin film, a polyimide resin film, or a novolac resin film, or a laminate of any of these films.

The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 control the alignment azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 231 with no voltage applied and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules 231 with no voltage applied. The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 may each be a horizontal alignment film or a vertical alignment film. To control the in-plane liquid crystal retardation and achieve sufficient white luminance, the third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 are preferably horizontal alignment films.

The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 may be rubbed alignment films or photoalignment films. The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 contain, for example, a polymer for an alignment film such as a polymer having a polyimide structure in its main chain, a polymer having a polyamic acid structure in its main chain, or a polymer having a polysiloxane structure in its main chain. The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 can be formed by, for example, applying an alignment film material containing the polymer for an alignment film to the third substrate 210 and the fourth substrate 250, respectively. The application method may be any method such as flexo printing or inkjet coating.

The second liquid crystal layer 230 contains the liquid crystal molecules 231 and controls the amount of light passing therethrough by changing the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 231 based on the voltage applied to the second liquid crystal layer 230. The anisotropy of dielectric constant (Δε) of the liquid crystal molecules defined by the formula (L) may be positive or negative, and is preferably positive.

The third polarizing plate 10P3 and the fourth polarizing plate 10P4 are both absorptive polarizers. The third polarizing plate 10P3 and the fourth polarizing plate 10P4 may each be, for example, a polarizer (absorptive polarizing plate) obtained by dyeing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film with an anisotropic material such as an iodine complex (or dye) to adsorb the anisotropic material on the PVA film, and stretching the film for alignment.

The third polarizing plate 10P3 has a third absorption axis 10P3A and a third transmission axis perpendicular to the third absorption axis 10P3A. The fourth polarizing plate 10P4 has a fourth absorption axis 10P4A and a fourth transmission axis perpendicular to the fourth absorption axis 10P4A.

Preferably, the third absorption axis 10P3A is perpendicular to the fourth absorption axis 10P4A. In other words, preferably, the third polarizing plate 10P3 and the fourth polarizing plate 10P4 are arranged in crossed Nicols.

Preferably, the third absorption axis 10P3A is perpendicular to the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A. This configuration can achieve black display with no voltage applied.

As shown in FIG. 10 , for example, the first absorption axis 10P1A, the second absorption axis 10P2A, and the fourth absorption axis 10P4A are set at an axis azimuth of 90° while the third absorption axis 10P3A is set at an axis azimuth of 0°.

The backlight 30 may be one commonly used in the field of liquid crystal display devices. The backlight 30 may be any one that can be placed on the back surface side of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 and emit light from the backlight 30 to the viewing surface side. The backlight 30 may be a direct-lit one or an edge-lit one. The light source of the backlight 30 may be of any type such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL).

The backlight 30 may include a louver film to improve the directivity. Preferably, the backlight 30 includes two light guide plates, and one of the two light guide plates has a function for the wide viewing angle mode and the other of the two light guide plates has a function for the narrow viewing angle mode. Specifically, for example, the backlight 30 may include a light guide plate laminate of a diffusing light guide plate and a non-diffusing light guide plate and independently control the LEDs arranged at the end of each of the two light guide plates, so as to be able to switch the mode of the backlight between the public mode and the privacy mode.

The liquid crystal display panel 20 may further include a viewing angle widening film (retardation film) on the viewing surface side of the third substrate 210 or on the back surface side of the fourth substrate 250. Examples of the viewing angle widening film include SAM films that have a fine wedge-like slope structure and disperse straight-forward-travelling light to all the azimuths.

Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 2

The liquid crystal display panel 20 in the display device 1 of Embodiment 2 is disposed on the viewing surface side of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10. The position of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is not limited thereto, and the liquid crystal display panel 20 may be disposed on the back surface side of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10. This configuration can achieve the same effect as Embodiment 2.

Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 adopts the liquid crystal display panel 20 as the display panel. The display panel may be any light-emitting unit and may be, for example, an organic electroluminescent (EL) display panel, an inorganic EL display panel, a microLED display panel, or a quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) display panel. When the display panel is an organic EL display panel, an inorganic EL display panel, a microLED display panel, or a QLED display panel, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 is disposed on the viewing surface side of the display panel and the display device 1 includes no backlight. The QLED display panel may be, for example, a liquid crystal-type one adopting blue LEDs as the backlight light sources and wavelength conversion by quantum dots (conversion from blue light to green light and conversion from blue light to red light, with the blue light transmitted as is to provide a blue color), so that the panel can reproduce a wider variety of colors and achieve lower power consumption than conventional liquid crystal panels.

The second polarizing plate 10P2 may be an absorptive polarizing plate. Yet, for example, a reflective polarizing plate (having a structure of a linearly polarizing plate/reflective polarizing plate) may also be used to increase the light recycling efficiency and thus the luminance as well, since the light from organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) used in an organic EL display panel is unpolarized.

Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 2, the liquid crystal display panel 20 may adopt a vertical (lengthwise) pixel arrangement. FIG. 36 is a schematic plan view of a third substrate of a liquid crystal display panel in a display device of Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2. FIG. 37 is a schematic plan view of a fourth substrate of the liquid crystal display panel in the display device of Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 9 , FIG. 36 , and FIG. 37 , the liquid crystal display panel 20 as the display panel includes the third substrate 210, the second liquid crystal layer 230, and the fourth substrate 250. The third substrate 210 includes color filters 212C of a plurality of colors. The fourth substrate 250 includes the third electrodes 252 or the fourth electrodes 254 as the pixel electrodes 250P. The color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P each have an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each of the color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In this manner, with the vertical pixel arrangement where the lengthwise direction of each of the color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20, an increase in width of the frame region, where modules are arranged, on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be prevented or reduced.

Herein, the top of the liquid crystal display panel 20 means an azimuthal angle of 90° of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The bottom of the liquid crystal display panel 20 means an azimuthal angle of 270° of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The right of the liquid crystal display panel 20 means an azimuthal angle of 0° of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The left of the liquid crystal display panel 20 means an azimuthal angle of 180° of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 means the direction of 90°-270° azimuth of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is the direction of 0°-180° azimuth, i.e., the horizontal direction, of the liquid crystal display panel 20. Herein, an azimuth of 0° means the same as an azimuthal angle of 0°, an azimuth of 90° means the same as an azimuthal angle of 90°, an azimuth of 180° means the same as an azimuthal angle of 180°, an azimuth of 270° means the same as an azimuthal angle of 270°, and an azimuth of 360° means the same as an azimuthal angle of 360°. In other words, the angle following the azimuth is the azimuthal angle.

The fourth substrate 250 includes the gate lines 256 and the source lines 257 arranged perpendicularly to each other and forming a grid pattern, and TFTs as switching elements at or near the respective intersections. Regions surrounded by the gate lines 256 and the source lines 257 define pixels 21P, and each pixel 21P includes as a third electrode 252 or a fourth electrode 254 a pixel electrode 250P connected to a corresponding TFT. The fourth substrate 250 is also referred to as a TFT substrate.

Each pixel electrode 250P has an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each pixel electrode 250P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, each pixel electrode 250P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

Each pixel 21P has an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each pixel 21P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, each pixel 21P lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

The length of each pixel 21P in the lengthwise direction (top-bottom direction) is not shorter than 130 µm and not longer than 170 µm, preferably not shorter than 140 µm and not longer than 160 µm, and is 150 µm, for example. The length of each pixel 21P in the widthwise direction (left-right direction) is not shorter than 30 µm and not longer than 70 µm, preferably not shorter than 40 µm and not longer than 60 µm, and is 50 µm, for example.

Each pixel electrode 250P is provided with a slit 250PS in the lengthwise direction (top-bottom direction) of the pixel electrode 250P. The liquid crystal molecules 231 in the second liquid crystal layer 230 with no voltage applied are aligned along the slits 250PS.

The third substrate 210 includes the color filter layer 212 with the color filters 212C of a plurality of different colors, and the black matrix layer 213. The color filters 212C of a plurality of colors include, for example, red color filters 212CR, green color filters 212CG, and blue color filters 212CB. Each pixel 21P includes a color filter 212C of one of these colors. The third substrate 210 is also referred to as a color filter substrate.

The red color filters 212CR, the green color filters 212CG, and the blue color filters 212CB each have an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each of the filters lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, the red color filters 212CR, the green color filters 212CG, and the blue color filters 212CB each lies in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

The third substrate 210 includes the black matrix layer 213 provided with a plurality of apertures 213S corresponding to the respective color filters 212C of a plurality of colors. The width LA of each of the apertures 213 in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is not smaller than 80 µm and not greater than 140 µm, and the width WA of each of the apertures 213 in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is not greater than 80 µm.

The width LA (also referred to as “LA1”) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is greater than the width LA (also referred to as “LA2”) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG and the width LA (LA2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The width LA (LA1) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is 120 µm, for example. The width LA (LA2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG and the width LA (LA2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 are 100 µm, for example.

The width WA of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB, the width WA of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG, and the width WA of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is 40 µm, for example.

Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 2, the liquid crystal display panel 20 may adopt a horizontal (widthwise) pixel arrangement. FIG. 38 is a schematic plan view of a third substrate of a liquid crystal display panel in a display device of Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2. FIG. 39 is a schematic plan view of a fourth substrate of the liquid crystal display panel in the display device of Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 9 , FIG. 38 , and FIG. 39 , the liquid crystal display panel 20 as the display panel includes the third substrate 210, the second liquid crystal layer 230, and the fourth substrate 250. The third substrate 210 includes the color filters 212C of a plurality of colors. The fourth substrate 250 includes the third electrodes 252 or the fourth electrodes 254 as the pixel electrodes 250P. The color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P each have an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each of the color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

In the vertical pixel arrangement shown in Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2, polarized light passing through the fourth polarizing plate 10P4 is likely to be diffracted due to the pitch of the conductive lines in the left-right direction in the fourth substrate 250, i.e., the pitch (e.g., about 50 µm) between the source lines 257 in FIG. 37 , and the width (e.g., about 40 µm) in the left-right direction (widthwise direction) of the apertures 213S of the black matrix layer 213 in FIG. 36 . The vertical pixel arrangement is therefore likely to involve a decline in capability of blocking light.

In contrast, when the horizontal pixel arrangement is adopted where the lengthwise direction of each of the color filters 212C of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrodes 250P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 as in the present modified example, the pitch of the conductive lines in the fourth substrate 250 in the left-right direction and the width of the apertures 213S of the black matrix layer 213 in the left-right direction can be widened, so that light diffraction can be reduced as compared with the vertical pixel arrangement. As a result, the horizontal pixel arrangement can achieve better blocking of light than the vertical pixel arrangement, leading to better privacy protection.

For example, in a 12.3-inch/170-ppi display device, the pitch of the conductive lines in the left-right direction in the fourth substrate 250, i.e., the pitch between the gate lines 256 in FIG. 39 , is widened to approximately 150 µm. Also, the width of the apertures 213S in the left-right direction (lengthwise direction) of the black matrix layer 213 in FIG. 38 is widened to not smaller than 100 µm and not greater than 120 µm. As a result, the horizontal pixel arrangement is less likely to cause light diffraction than the vertical pixel arrangement, and thus can achieve better blocking of light. As described above, the present modified example adopting the horizontal pixel arrangement can provide better privacy protection than Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 2 adopting the vertical pixel arrangement. In a display device with a resolution lower than the resolution described above (e.g., < 100 ppi), the pixel shape is not necessarily a horizontally long rectangular shape and may be a square-like shape as long as its width WB in the left-right direction is not smaller than 80 µm and not greater than 140 µm.

In a 12.3-inch/170-ppi display device, for example, privacy protection (blocking of light) in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) at a polar angle of -30° is achieved about twice better in the horizontal pixel arrangement than in the vertical pixel arrangement. In other words, the luminance in the horizontal pixel arrangement in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) at a polar angle of -30° is substantially half the luminance in the vertical pixel arrangement.

The horizontal pixel arrangement corresponds to an arrangement obtained by rotating the liquid crystal display panel 20 in the vertical pixel arrangement shown in the modified example above by an azimuth of 90°. The liquid crystal display panel 20 alone is rotated without any change in the third absorption axis 10P3A of the third polarizing plate 10P3 and the fourth absorption axis 10P4A of the fourth polarizing plate 10P4.

In the present modified example, an increase in width of the frame region, where modules are arranged, on the upper and lower sides of the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be prevented or reduced. However, the number of gate lines 256 arranged in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel increases, which may increase the width of the frame region, where modules are arranged, on at least one of the left side or the right side of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

In both of the structures of Modified Example 3 and the present Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 2, the liquid crystal display panel 20 is in the IPS mode or the FFS mode, so that the display device 1 has a sufficiently wide viewing angle range in the public mode.

The fourth substrate 250 includes the gate lines 256 and the source lines 257 arranged perpendicularly to each other and forming a grid pattern, and TFTs as switching elements at or near the respective intersections. Regions surrounded by the gate lines 256 and the source lines 257 define pixels 21P, and each pixel 21P includes as a third electrode 252 or a fourth electrode 254 a pixel electrode 250P connected to a corresponding TFT. The fourth substrate 250 is also referred to as a TFT substrate. In the present modified example, the gate lines 256 are arranged in the top-bottom direction and the source lines 257 are arranged in the left-right direction. The arrangement of the gate lines 256 and the source lines 257 is not limited thereto, and the gate lines 256 may be arranged in the left-right direction and the source lines 257 may be arranged in the top-bottom direction.

Each pixel electrode 250P has an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each pixel electrode 250P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, each pixel electrode 250P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

Each pixel 21P has an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each pixel 21P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, each pixel 21P lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

The length of each pixel 21P in the lengthwise direction (left-right direction) is not shorter than 130 µm and not longer than 170 µm, preferably not shorter than 140 µm and not longer than 160 µm, and is 150 µm, for example. The length of each pixel 21P in the widthwise direction (top-bottom direction) is not shorter than 30 µm and not longer than 70 µm, preferably not shorter than 40 µm and not longer than 60 µm, and is 50 µm, for example.

Each pixel electrode 250P is provided with a slit 250PS in the lengthwise direction (left-right direction) of the pixel electrode 250P. The liquid crystal molecules 231 in the second liquid crystal layer 230 with no voltage applied are aligned along the slits 250PS.

The third substrate 210 includes the color filter layer 212 with the color filters 212C of a plurality of different colors, and the black matrix layer 213. The color filters 212C of a plurality of colors include, for example, the red color filters 212CR, the green color filters 212CG, and the blue color filters 212CB. Each pixel 21P includes a color filter 212C of one of these colors. The third substrate 210 is also referred to as a color filter substrate.

The red color filters 212CR, the green color filters 212CG, and the blue color filters 212CB each have an elongated shape, and the lengthwise direction of each of the filters lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. In other words, the red color filters 212CR, the green color filters 212CG, and the blue color filters 212CB each lies in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20.

Preferably, the third substrate 210 includes the black matrix layer 213 provided with the apertures 213S corresponding to the respective color filters 212C of a plurality of colors. A width WB of each of the apertures 213 in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is not smaller than 80 µm and not greater than 140 µm, and a width LB of each of the apertures 213 in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is not greater than 80 µm. This configuration can effectively prevent or reduce light diffraction due to the black matrix layer 213. As a result, the configuration can achieve better blocking of light, leading to better privacy protection.

The width WB (also referred to as “WB1”) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is greater than the width WB (also referred to as “WB2”) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG and the width WB (WB2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The width WB (WB1) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is 120 µm, for example. The width WB (WB2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG and the width WB (WB2) of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the left-right direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is 100 µm, for example.

The width LB of each aperture 213S corresponding to a blue color filter 212CB, the width LB of each aperture 213S corresponding to a green color filter 212CG, and the width LB of each aperture 213S corresponding to a red color filter 212CR in the top-bottom direction of the liquid crystal display panel 20 is 40 µm, for example.

Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2

The backlight 30 may be any of the backlights mentioned in the present modified example. FIG. 40 is a schematic perspective view of a backlight in a display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. 40 , the backlight 30 of the present modified example includes, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, a reflector 35, a normal light guide plate 36 having LEDs 36L at its end (end surface), a prism sheet 37, a louver film 38, and a public-mode light guide plate 39 having LEDs 39L at its end (end surface). A backlight including the reflector 35, the normal light guide plate 36 having the LEDs 36L at its end (end surface), and the prism sheet 37 is also referred to as a normal backlight 30N. A backlight including LEDs at the ends of two layers as in the present modified example is also referred to as a two-layered backlight.

The reflector 35 is an optical film having a reflectance of not lower than 98% and is an ESR available from 3M, for example. The normal light guide plate 36 has the same configuration as a typical light guide plate and has a function of guiding light from the LEDs 36L into the plane of the normal light guide plate 36. The prism sheet 37 has the same configuration as a normal prism sheet and can be a BEF series (brightness enhancement film) available from 3M, for example. The louver film 38 has a function of reducing the luminance of oblique light in the left-right direction (horizontal direction), i.e., the direction of an azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°. The louver film 38 may bilaterally symmetrically block oblique light in the left-right direction. The public-mode light guide plate 39 has a function of diffusing light from the LEDs 39L on the structures engraved in the public-mode light guide plate 39, thereby emitting diffused light. The public-mode light guide plate 39 also includes fine particles that diffuse incident light in a wide viewing angle range, and an acrylic resin. The acrylic resin is particularly preferably polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

The combination of the normal backlight 30N and the louver film 38 provides a short optical path, so that the fine particles in the public-mode light guide plate 39 do not diffuse incident light. This results in a narrow viewing angle range.

FIG. 41 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the LEDs on the normal light guide plate and the LEDs on the public-mode light guide plate are in the on state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2. FIG. 42 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the LEDs on the normal light guide plate are in the on state and the LEDs on the public-mode light guide plate are in an off state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2. FIG. 43 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the LEDs on the normal light guide plate are in the off state and the LEDs on the public-mode light guide plate are in the on state in the backlight in the display device of Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 41 , when both the LEDs 36L on the normal light guide plate 36 and the LEDs 39L on the public-mode light guide plate 39 are in the on state, i.e., both the LEDs 36L and the LEDs 39L are simultaneously turned on, the backlight 30 operates in the wide viewing angle mode.

As shown in FIG. 42 , when the LEDs 36L on the normal light guide plate 36 are in the on state and the LEDs 39L on the public-mode light guide plate 39 are in the off state, i.e., the LEDs 36L are turned on while the LEDs 39L are turned off, the backlight 30 operates in the narrow viewing angle mode.

Although the front luminance decreases as compared with the narrow viewing angle mode shown in FIG. 42 , when the LEDs 36L on the normal light guide plate 36 are in the off state and the LEDs 39L on the public-mode light guide plate 39 are in the on state as shown in FIG. 43 , i.e., the LEDs 36L are turned off while the LEDs 39L are turned on, the backlight 30 operates in the narrow viewing angle mode.

Modified Example 6 of Embodiment 2

FIG. 44 is a schematic perspective view of a backlight in a display device of Modified Example 6 of Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. 44 , a louver film 381 that reduces the luminance of oblique light in the top-bottom direction (vertical direction), i.e., the direction of an azimuthal angle of 90° or 270°, may be provided on or above the public-mode light guide plate 39, in addition to the structure in Modified Example 5 of Embodiment 2. With the louver film 381 as in the present modified example, the display device 1, when mounted on a vehicle, can prevent glare on the windshield. The louver film 381 can be a common louver film.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention are described with reference to examples and comparative examples. The present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1

A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 1 having the same configuration as that in Embodiment 1 was used to simulate the luminance viewing angles and simulate the transmittance versus polar angle in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). FIG. 11 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 1. FIG. 12 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 1.

The following shows the specific configuration of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 1. The first polarizing plate 10P1 and the second polarizing plate 10P2 used were absorptive linearly polarizing plates, and the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A were set at an axis azimuth of 90°. The first electrode 112 and the second electrode 152 used were solid ITO electrodes, and the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was passively driven. The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 used were horizontal alignment films which have undergone the rubbing treatment and thus can align the liquid crystal molecules 131 in the horizontal direction, with the pre-tilt angle set to 1° to 2°. The first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film each had a strong anchoring energy. The first liquid crystal layer 130 used contained positive liquid crystal molecules 131. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was an ECB mode liquid crystal panel that aligns its liquid crystal molecules homogeneously with no voltage applied. The first liquid crystal layer 130 was set to have a birefringence Δn of 0.10, have a cell thickness d of 8 µm, and provide a retardation Re of 800 nm.

The director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis 10P1A were set to form an angle α of 5°. Specifically, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 was set at an angle of +5° relative to the first absorption axis 10P1A. In other words, the rubbing direction for the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 was shifted by +5° from the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A. In the examples and comparative examples, the angle of the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 from the first absorption axis 10P1A measured positive in the clockwise direction and negative in the counterclockwise direction. The polar angle measured positive when the direction in question was at an azimuth of 0° to 90° or an azimuth of 270° to 360° (0°), while the polar angle measured negative when the direction in question was at an azimuth of 90° to 270°.

The liquid crystal molecules 131 were at a tilt angle of 1° with no voltage applied, and at a tilt angle of 61° with voltage applied.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 1 operated in the wide viewing angle mode with no voltage applied, and operated in the narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range was asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front direction) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) with voltage applied. Especially in the narrow viewing angle mode, the polar angle (light-shielding angle) at which the transmittance was minimum was successfully as small as -40° even though Re was 800 nm. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 1, providing a Re of 800 nm, successfully further reduced the unviewable angle (polar angle) in the privacy mode while achieving sufficient productivity and sufficient reliability.

Example 2

A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 2 had the same configuration as in Example 1 except that the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first absorption axis 10P1A were set to form an angle α of 10°. This panel was used to simulate the luminance viewing angles and simulate the transmittance versus polar angle in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). Specifically, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 was set at an angle of +10° relative to the first absorption axis 10P1A. In other words, the rubbing direction for the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 was shifted by +10° from the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A. The liquid crystal molecules 131 were at the same tilt angle as in Example 1, regardless of the voltage applied. FIG. 13 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 2. FIG. 14 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 2.

As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 , the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 2 operated in the wide viewing angle mode with no voltage applied, and operated in the narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range was asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) with voltage applied. Especially in the narrow viewing angle mode, the polar angle (light-shielding angle) at which the transmittance was minimum was successfully as small as -35° even though Re was 800 nm. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 2, providing a Re of 800 nm, successfully further reduced the unviewable angle (polar angle) in the privacy mode while achieving sufficient productivity and sufficient reliability.

Example 3

A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3 had the same configuration as in Example 1 except that the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first absorption axis 10P1A were set to form an angle α of 15°. This panel was used to simulate the luminance viewing angles and simulate transmittance versus polar angles in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). Specifically, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 was set at an angle of +15° relative to the first absorption axis 10P1A. In other words, the rubbing direction for the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 was shifted by +15° from the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A. The liquid crystal molecules 131 were at the same tilt angle as in Example 1, regardless of the voltage applied. FIG. 15 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3. FIG. 16 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3.

As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 , the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3 operated in the wide viewing angle mode with no voltage applied, and operated in the narrow viewing angle mode in which the viewing angle range was asymmetric about the central axis (polar angle of 0°, i.e., front) in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) with voltage applied. Especially in the narrow viewing angle mode, the polar angle (light-shielding angle) at which the transmittance was minimum was successfully as small as -30° even though Re was 800 nm. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3, providing a Re of 800 nm, successfully further reduced the unviewable angle (polar angle) in the privacy mode while achieving sufficient productivity and sufficient reliability.

Example 3A

A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3A had the same configuration as in Example 3 except that the first absorptive axis 10P1A and the second absorptive axis 10P2A were set at an azimuth of 0° and the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first absorption axis 10P1A were set to form an angle α of 75°. This panel was used to simulate the luminance viewing angles and simulate transmittance versus polar angles in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). The liquid crystal molecules 131 were at the same tilt angle as in Example 3, regardless of the voltage applied. FIG. 17 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A. FIG. 18A shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A. FIG. 18B shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3.

As shown in FIG. 17 , FIG. 18A, and FIG. 18B, with the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 at an axis azimuth of 75°, the panel successfully achieved a polar angle of -30° in the horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°) when the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A were set at an axis azimuth of 0° (Example 3A) as in when the first absorption axis 10P1A and thee second absorption axis 10P2A were set at an axis azimuth of 90° (Example 3).

Example 3B1 to Example 3B4

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one of viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3B1 to Example 3B4. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3B1 to Example 3B4 shown in FIG. 19 were used to simulate the luminance viewing angles. The viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3B1 to Example 3B4 corresponded to the liquid crystal panel of Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1 and had the same configuration as the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A except that they included the negative C plate 160 between the first substrate 110 and the first polarizing plate 10P1. The negative C plates 160 in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3B1 to Example 3B4 were set to provide a retardation Rth in the thickness direction of 250 nm, 500 nm, 750 nm, and 1000 nm, respectively, at a wavelength of 550 nm. Specifically, the negative C plates 160 in Example 3B1 to Example 3B4 each consisted of one to four negative C plates providing a retardation Rth in the thickness direction of 250 nm. The liquid crystal molecules 131 were at the same tilt angle as in Example 3A, regardless of the voltage applied. FIG. 20 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Example 3A and Example 3B1 to Example 3B4.

As shown in FIG. 20 , the negative C plates 160 providing a retardation Rth in the thickness direction of not less than 500 nm were found to enhance blocking of light in the narrow viewing angle mode. In cases where the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Example 3A without any negative C plate 160 is applied to a European car, an image displayed on the co-driver display (CDD) can be viewed by the driver at an angle where the driver looks down the CDD. In contrast, in cases where any of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panels of Examples 3B2 to 3B4 providing a retardation Rth in the thickness direction of not less than 500 nm is applied to a European car, an image displayed on the CDD cannot be viewed by the driver at an angle where the driver looks down the CDD.

Comparative Example 1

A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1 had the same configuration as in Example 1 except that the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the first absorption axis 10P1A were set to form an angle α of 0°. This panel was used to simulate the luminance viewing angles and simulate transmittance versus polar angles in the screen horizontal direction (azimuthal angle of 0° or 180°). Specifically, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 was set at an angle of +0° relative to the first absorption axis 10P1A. In other words, the rubbing direction for the first alignment film 120 and the second alignment film 140 was 0° relative to the first absorption axis 10P1A and the second absorption axis 10P2A. FIG. 21 shows the simulation results of luminance viewing angles of the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 22 shows the simulation results of transmittance versus polar angle in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 23 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the director of liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the director of the liquid crystal molecules with voltage applied and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates in the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1.

As shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 , the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1 operated in the wide viewing angle mode with no voltage applied, and operated in the narrow viewing angle mode with voltage applied. In the narrow viewing angle mode, the polar angle (light-shielding angle) at which the transmittance was minimum was ±45° when Re was 800 nm. The light-shielding angle increased as compared with those in Example 1 to Example 3.

As shown in FIG. 23 , with no voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the optical electric field direction (first transmission axis 10P1B and second transmission axis 10P2B) were always perpendicular to each other in the front direction (polar angle of 0°) and an oblique direction (polar angle of 45°). This presumably caused the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1 to operate in the wide viewing angle mode.

As shown in FIG. 24 , with voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1 and the liquid crystal molecules 131 being at a tilt angle θ of, for example, approximately 45°, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and the optical electric field direction (first transmission axis 10P1B and second transmission axis 10P2B) were perpendicular to each other in the front direction (polar angle of 0°) but led to a high capability of blocking light at a polar angle of 45°. This presumably caused the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel of Comparative Example 1 to operate in the narrow viewing angle mode where the light-shielding angle was 45°.

Example 4

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 4. FIG. 26 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 4. A display device 1 of Example 4 having the same configuration as in Embodiment 2 was used to simulate the viewing angles.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 , the display device 1 of Example 4 included, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, the backlight 30, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3, and the liquid crystal display panel 20 as a display panel.

In the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, the director 131A of the liquid crystal molecules 131 was at an axis azimuth of 75°, i.e., was set to form an angle α of 15°.

In the liquid crystal display panel 20, the third polarizing plate 10P3 and the fourth polarizing plate 10P4 used were absorptive linearly polarizing plates, the third absorption axis 10P3A was set at an axis azimuth of 0°, and the fourth absorption axis 10P4A was set at an axis azimuth of 90°. The third alignment film 220 and the fourth alignment film 240 used were horizontal alignment films which have undergone the rubbing treatment and thus can align the liquid crystal molecules 131 in the horizontal direction. The second liquid crystal layer 230 used contained the positive liquid crystal molecules 131, and the liquid crystal display panel 20 used was an IPS mode liquid crystal panel that operates in a homogeneous alignment state with no voltage applied. The director 231A of the liquid crystal molecules 231 in the second liquid crystal layer 230 with no voltage applied was set at an axis azimuth of 90°.

The backlight 30 included one light guide plate having a high degree of directivity. In other words, the backlight 30 was one that does not switch between the public mode and the privacy mode.

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 4. With no voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the left part of FIG. 27 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was high in both the front direction and the oblique direction (polar angle of 45°), which presumably led to bright display in both the front direction and the oblique direction. Since the liquid crystal display panel 20 is driven in the transverse electric field mode, light having passed through the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 presumably passed through the liquid crystal display panel 20 not only in the front direction but also in the oblique direction. This resulted in transmission of light to the viewing surface side in a wide polar angle range, so that the display device could presumably achieve the wide viewing angle mode.

With voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the right part of FIG. 27 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was seemingly maximum at a polar angle of +20°, which was slightly off the front direction, while being minimum at a polar angle of -30°. This light has similar angle profiles after passing through the liquid crystal display panel 20. The display device thus presumably achieved a small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode, especially on the left side.

The configuration of Example 4, lacking the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel on its outermost surface, is advantageous in that it can be adopted together with the in-cell touch panel technique. The display device 1 shown in Example 4 is applicable to display devices for vehicles, PCs, or smartphones, for example.

Example 5

FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 5. FIG. 29 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 5. FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 5. The display device 1 of Example 5 shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 was used to simulate the viewing angles. The display device 1 of Example 5 had the same configuration as in Example 4 except that it included the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 on the viewing surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 20 and the axis azimuths were varied as shown in FIG. 29 .

With no voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the left part of FIG. 30 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the liquid crystal display panel 20 and then the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was high in both the front direction and the oblique direction (polar angle of 45°), which presumably led to bright display in both the front direction and the oblique direction. This resulted in transmission of light to the viewing surface side in a wide polar angle range, so that the display device could presumably achieve the wide viewing angle mode.

With voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the right part of FIG. 30 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the liquid crystal display panel 20 and then the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was seemingly maximum at a polar angle of +20°, which was slightly off the front direction, while being minimum at a polar angle of -30°. In other words, the display device seems to have successfully achieved a light-shielding angle of -30° in the narrow viewing angle mode.

With the configuration of Example 5, the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 can cut light, especially light in oblique directions, among lights resulting from diffraction by the TFTs of the liquid crystal display panel 20 or diffusion by the apertures of the black matrix layer 213. Such a panel was found to exhibit a high capability of blocking light in the narrow viewing angle mode.

Example 6

FIG. 31 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 6. FIG. 32 is a schematic front view of the display device of Example 6. A display device 1 of Example 6 having the same configuration as in Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 2 was used to simulate the viewing angles.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 , the display device 1 of Example 6 included, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, the organic EL display panel 40 as the display panel, and the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 of Example 3. The organic EL display panel 40 used was a color conversion-type OLED.

The organic EL display panel 40 included, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, a TFT substrate 410, an anode 420, a hole injection layer/hole transport layer 430, a blue light-emitting layer 440, an electron injection layer/electron transport layer 450, a cathode 460, and a counter substrate 470. The counter substrate 470 included on a support substrate 471 a black matrix layer 472 provided with a first aperture 472X, a second aperture 472Y, and a third aperture 472Z, a red quantum dot sheet 473R disposed in the first aperture 472X, and a green quantum dot sheet 473G disposed in the second aperture 472Y.

FIG. 33 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of the display device 1 of Example 6. With no voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the left part of FIG. 33 , the transmittance of light (unpolarized light) from the organic EL display panel 40 having passed through the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was high in both the front direction and the oblique direction (polar angle of 45°), which presumably led to bright display in both the front direction and the oblique direction. This resulted in transmission of light to the viewing surface side in a wide polar angle range, so that the display device could presumably achieve the wide viewing angle mode.

With voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, as shown in the right part of FIG. 33 , the transmittance of light (unpolarized light) from the organic EL display panel 40 having passed through the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was seemingly maximum at a polar angle of +20°, which was slightly off the front direction, while being minimum at a polar angle of -30°. In other words, the display device seems to have successfully achieved a light-shielding angle of -30° in the narrow viewing angle mode.

The configuration of Example 6 adopts the organic EL display panel 40 as the display panel and thus the display device can be reduced in thickness and weight as compared with a case of adopting the liquid crystal display panel 20. This configuration is therefore suitable for mobile device uses. The display device 1 shown in Example 6 is applicable to display devices for vehicles, PCs, or smartphones, for example.

Example 7

FIG. 34 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device of Example 7. FIG. 35 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the viewing angles in the narrow viewing angle mode and the wide viewing angle mode of a display device 1 of Example 7. A display device 1 of Example 7 shown in FIG. 34 was used to simulate the viewing angles. The display device 1 of Example 7 had the same configuration as in Example 4 except for the configuration of the backlight 30. The backlight 30 of Example 7 included, sequentially from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side, an enhanced specular reflector (ESR) 31 available from 3M, a privacy-mode light guide plate 32 having LEDs 32L at its end, a louver film 33 that cuts light in the left-right direction, and a public-mode light guide plate 34 having LEDs 34L at its end. The ESR 31 used was an optical film formed from a polyester resin (multilayered film structure) and had a reflectance of not lower than 98%. The public-mode light guide plate 34 had a function of diffusing light from the LEDs 34L on the structures engraved in the public-mode light guide plate 34, thereby emitting diffused light toward the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10. The privacy-mode light guide plate 32 had a function of allowing light from the LEDs 32L to pass through the louver film 33, thereby emitting light with directivity toward the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10.

With no voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, the LEDs 32L at the end of the privacy-mode light guide plate 32 being in the off state, and the LEDs 34L at the end of the public-mode light guide plate 34 being in the on state, as shown in the left part of FIG. 35 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the liquid crystal display panel 20 and then the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was high in both the front direction and the oblique direction (polar angle of 45°), which presumably led to bright display in both the front direction and the oblique direction. This resulted in transmission of light to the viewing surface side in a wide polar angle range, so that the display device could presumably achieve the wide viewing angle mode.

With voltage applied to the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10, the LEDs 32L at the end of the privacy-mode light guide plate 32 being in the on state, and the LEDs 34L at the end of the public-mode light guide plate 34 being in the off state, as shown in the right part of FIG. 35 , the transmittance of light (polarized light) from the backlight 30 having passed through the liquid crystal display panel 20 and then the viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel 10 was seemingly maximum at a polar angle of +20°, which was slightly off the front direction, while being minimum at a polar angle of -30°. In other words, the display device seems to have successfully achieved a light-shielding angle of -30° in the narrow viewing angle mode.

With the two light guide plates of the privacy-mode light guide plate 32 and the public-mode light guide plate 34, the luminance modulation width can be increased in an oblique direction (oblique polar angle on one side) in the wide viewing angle mode and the narrow viewing angle mode (i.e., wide luminance-controlling range can be achieved). This can further increase the luminance in the wide viewing angle mode while more clearly switching the mode and blocking light at a higher level in the narrow viewing angle mode.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1: display device -   10: viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel -   10P1: first polarizing plate -   10P1A: first absorption axis -   10P1B: first transmission axis -   10P2: second polarizing plate -   10P2A: second absorption axis -   10P2B: second transmission axis -   10P3: third polarizing plate -   10P3A: third absorption axis -   10P4: fourth polarizing plate -   10P4A: fourth absorption axis -   11P, 21P: pixel -   20: liquid crystal display panel -   30, 30N: backlight -   31: ESR -   32: privacy-mode light guide plate -   32L, 34L, 36L, 39L: LED -   33, 38, 381: louver film -   34, 39: public-mode light guide plate -   35: reflector -   36: normal light guide plate -   37: prism sheet -   40: organic EL display panel -   50: screen -   110: first substrate -   111: first support substrate -   112: first electrode -   120: first alignment film -   130: liquid crystal layer (first liquid crystal layer) -   131, 231: liquid crystal molecule -   131A, 231A: director -   140: second alignment film -   150: second substrate -   151: second support substrate -   152: second electrode -   153, 256: gate line -   154, 257: source line -   155: TFT (thin film transistor) -   160, 160A, 160B: negative C plate -   210: third substrate -   211: third support substrate -   212: color filter layer -   212C, 212CB, 212CG, 212CR: color filter -   213: black matrix layer -   213S: aperture -   220: third alignment film -   230: second liquid crystal layer -   240: fourth alignment film -   250: fourth substrate -   250P: pixel electrode -   250PS: slit -   251: fourth support substrate -   252: third electrode -   253: insulating layer -   254: fourth electrode -   254 a: linear electrode -   254 b: aperture -   410: TFT substrate -   420: anode -   430: hole injection layer/hole transport layer -   440: blue light-emitting layer -   450: electron injection layer/electron transport layer -   460: cathode -   470: counter substrate -   471: support substrate -   472: black matrix layer -   472X: first aperture -   472Y: second aperture -   472Z: third aperture -   473G: green quantum dot sheet -   473R: red quantum dot sheet 

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal panel sequentially comprising: a first polarizing plate with a first absorption axis; a first substrate including a first electrode; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a second electrode, wherein in a plan view, a director of the liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle a of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°.
 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, further comprising a second polarizing plate with a second absorption axis parallel to the first absorption axis, the second polarizing plate facing the liquid crystal layer across the second substrate.
 3. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are at a tilt angle of not smaller than 1° and not greater than 5° with no voltage applied, and the liquid crystal molecules are at a tilt angle of not smaller than 40° and not greater than 75° with voltage applied.
 4. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel is in an ECB mode.
 5. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer with voltage applied provides a retardation Re of not less than 600 nm and not more than 1000 nm.
 6. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer has a thickness d of not smaller than 3 µm and not greater than 10 µm.
 7. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules have a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant.
 8. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, further comprising a negative C plate that provides a retardation Rth in a thickness direction of not less than 500 nm.
 9. A display device comprising: the liquid crystal panel according to claim 1; and a display panel.
 10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display panel is an IPS mode or FFS mode liquid crystal display panel.
 11. The display device according to claim 9, further comprising a backlight, wherein the backlight includes two light guide plates, and one of the two light guide plates has a function for a wide viewing angle mode and the other of the two light guide plates has a function for a narrow viewing angle mode.
 12. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display panel is an organic EL display panel, an inorganic EL display panel, a microLED display panel, or a QLED display panel.
 13. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display panel includes a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate, the third substrate includes color filters of a plurality of colors, the fourth substrate includes a pixel electrode, the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode each have an elongated shape, and a lengthwise direction of each of the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode lies in a top-bottom direction of the display panel.
 14. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display panel includes a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate, the third substrate includes color filters of a plurality of colors, the fourth substrate includes a pixel electrode, the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode each have an elongated shape, and a lengthwise direction of each of the color filters of a plurality of colors and the pixel electrode lies in a left-right direction of the display panel.
 15. The display device according to claim 14, wherein the third substrate includes a black matrix layer provided with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the respective color filters of a plurality of colors, the apertures each have a width WB in the left-right direction of the display panel of not smaller than 80 µm and not greater than 140 µm, and the apertures each have a width LB in a top-bottom direction of the display panel of not greater than 80 µm. 